Don't you find it odd that some of the biggest online store still...

[Visual360]

...don't have anything up/pre-orders, etc. in regards to the Asus Transformer.

I mean, it's only like 3 days before this tablet supposedly available to the masses, but I still don't see it available for pre-order, etc.

I know NewEgg, had one, but seems to be gone now. Amazon usually is the first to have this kind of stuff, but oddly enough they don't have it...

Weird.

 

[stearic]

That is kind of odd yea. Hopefully it doesn't mean anything.

 

[zach_alt]

Nope. Not one bit.

 

[Concho Pete]

Release date is Tuesday......it's only Sunday.

 

[Balthazar B]

Wouldn't be at all surprised if the Japan disaster hasn't caused some logistical problems with parts that's affecting Asus downstream. It's also possible that there were issues discovered with the first batch of Transformers shipped that Asus is trying to fix (firmware update?) before US models get into the hands of users.

 

[scheets973]

so you think we wont have it tuesday then.. fantastic. i hope differently, but with the video issue frame rate issue on the uk version it might make some sense. i am tired of checking pre order!

 

[Balthazar B]

I have no idea if it will be available Tuesday or not. I try not to predict the future (though lapse from time to time).

 

[Bossxii]

Here is my theory on the subject. The initial launch was (guessing) April 1st. Asus sold out and realized there was no way they would have stock ready to ship to the US and let it's retailers know. Places like BB, Newegg etc... didn't do their normal 30 day in advance pre order because they were told no go on April 1st, if that in fact was the date.

Now fast forward 3 weeks, they announce April 26th as the US release date. If you ran a company such as Best Buy would you take the chance to take a bunch of pre orders on a device you may or may not get on the 26th? If Asus has a last minute issue? Worse yet, take pre orders and get to answer to customers that were promised stock on the 26th via their pre order and then can't deliver if a last minute change happens yet again.

Just as Best Buy felt the need to basically lie to people for the past few weeks in order to build up stock enough to have some sort of re launch of the iPad 2 last weekend. Just so they could run a Sunday ad and actually have stock in stores. Online sales are fine, but in store, face to face they can sell add on items such as cases, zagg covers, Black Tie BS etc...

 

[milominderbinde]

Our local Best Buy manager showed me their inventory screen showing they are expecting 5 Transformers in stock on Tuesday along with 5 keyboard docks. They expect nearly all will want the keyboard. He offered to let me go on their waiting list with customer service.

He said only Apple and Sony have as low a return rate as Asus. He said 80% of the computers Best Buy sells have Asus boards in them.

 

[Lil21kev]

I'm very nervous because I ant one and Everyone I ask here in Fresno California seems to not know what it is. I'm wondering if I should get an internet card for it.. hmm

 

[zach_alt]

Our local Best Buy manager showed me their inventory screen showing they are expecting 5 Transformers in stock on Tuesday along with 5 keyboard docks. They expect nearly all will want the keyboard. He offered to let me go on their waiting list with customer service.

He said only Apple and Sony have as low a return rate as Asus. He said 80% of the computers Best Buy sells have Asus boards in them.

How did he show you that? Every Best Buy I've called doesn't even have the SKU in their computers. Hell, even the Best Buy website doesn't have the SKU on file...

 

[nxp3#AC]

odd indeed

Can't find anywhere as well. Asked a guy at Fry's, all he said was sometime next week. I find that people at these elctronic stores are mostly idiots so don't expect any useful answer from them.

 

[nxp3#AC]

There certainly a big list of retailers for the transformers and come april 26, I'm going to check online right away to see if someone has it in stock. I'm going to be pretty pissed at Asus if no one has it listed. I mean with so many stores listed, there bound to be one available somewhere if in fact they got it on the 26th. I'm excited about the transformer, but I don't know anyone else know what it is. It's not like it's an Apple and not like asus advertise on TV. I'm trying to think what's the best place to go get one. Best buy is probably not, but if they say it has it at staples and walmart...that would be a good place to go wouldn't you think?

 

[farwest]

I went in to BB to check out the Acer Iconia a500 and asked about the Transformer - said they had yet to get any (was early afternoon) and was unaware when any were coming. But even though this guy seemed to be in charge of the tablets, barely knew much about it (or cared to know much about it).

BTW, the Iconia tab was a nice device -felt good in the hand, solid build quality (nicer than the Xoom), better looking screen than the Xoom (but not by much). Small customization to Honeycomb, but otherwise seemed nearly identical to the Xoom. One nice feature was the full sized USB.

Had to ask to see it as Acer had yet to ship security something-or-other that allowed them to display it (or so that was the story). But I had the distinct impression that the salesperson thought I was an idiot for looking at anything but the ipad2.

These Android tablets have a hard time competing with such desultory/incompetent sales people and sales pipeline.

I've checked online and the only place I can find the Transformer listed is PC Richards - a chain on the NY area. Was expecting a lot more sites to be selling the Transformer by now.

 

[sprke81]

Just checked 2 best buys..they don't know anything about the transformer and the one guy did a bunch of digging and couldn't find anything in the system. He even went back to the warehouse and there wasnt any back there. I'm hoping they were both just ignorant...

 

[.46caliber]

Our local Best Buy manager showed me their inventory screen showing they are expecting 5 Transformers in stock on Tuesday along with 5 keyboard docks. They expect nearly all will want the keyboard. He offered to let me go on their waiting list with customer service.

He said only Apple and Sony have as low a return rate as Asus. He said 80% of the computers Best Buy sells have Asus boards in them.

I thought Best Buy mostly sold branded computers like HP and Dell. To my knowledge, those companies still use their own proprietary boards. Every Dell/HP/IBM we have at work has their own proprietary boards. The only ones we have that have public motherboards are the custom order ones like the Systemax line from TigerDirect. They use boards from companies like MSI, Asus, Biostar etc.

 

[.46caliber]

There certainly a big list of retailers for the transformers and come april 26, I'm going to check online right away to see if someone has it in stock. I'm going to be pretty pissed at Asus if no one has it listed. I mean with so many stores listed, there bound to be one available somewhere if in fact they got it on the 26th. I'm excited about the transformer, but I don't know anyone else know what it is. It's not like it's an Apple and not like asus advertise on TV. I'm trying to think what's the best place to go get one. Best buy is probably not, but if they say it has it at staples and walmart...that would be a good place to go wouldn't you think?

Staples, Office Depot, Walmart would probably be better bets. Online would be the best.

 

[Bossxii]

I've called two differnt Best Buys and stopped in at a third. Only one of them on the phone even had a clue what I was talking about and said as far as he knew would only be available at Bestbuy.com on the 26th, not in stores.

The store I went to was pretty much clueless as well. Amazing... well not really they are BB employee's.

 

[Raptor007]

Well here is it 10:32pm and I can't find anyone who has it, Tiger Direct is "unavailable", PC Richards, page could not be found. BB, Amazon, Walmart, Staples, OfficeMax all nada.

So if this is launching tomorrow then its a huge surprise to the world that its going on sale. BB seems only focused on Acer and HTC right now.

 

[scheets973]

mother bleep... should I just go to sleep.... Phil, are you lying about the date!!!!!!

I have work in the morning and I am staying up up for this thing.